Instead it's the state Legislature that is responsible for the 24-year-old escaping prison time after killing more than a dozen dogs.

"You have to understand that judges' abilities to impose sentences are limited by the Michigan sentencing guidelines, and I think this case is a perfect example," Dunnings said. "The criminal justice system to a certain extent has been subject to a legislative shell game."

Manderfield sentenced Thompson to five years of probation, as well as 400 hours of community service. Thompson, a former Michigan State University medical school student, must also have no contact with animals, remain in psychological treatment, work at least 30 hours per week and pay several thousands of dollars in fines and restitution, Manderfield ruled.

In April, Thompson pleaded guilty to three felony charges of animal killing or torture. Prosecutors merged all other counts in with the three, a move that did not impact sentencing guidelines.

A conviction on one of the charges is punishable by up to four years in prison, but sentences for multiple convictions must be served concurrently, Michigan law stipulates. That means Thompson would have served at most four years in prison even if he had been convicted on all 13 counts.

But the state's sentencing guidelines say Thompson, whose record was previously clean, is subject to up to a nine-month sentence, according to Dunnings.

"So the Legislature passes this law and says it's up to four years for this charge, then they have a press conference and say they're protecting the citizens," Dunnings said. "But that was just for publicity purposes, because then they pass sentencing guidelines, which limit the judge's ability to impose sentencing."

The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office requested a two- to four-year sentence for Thompson, but Manderfield elected otherwise. Dunnings said she could have departed from sentencing guidelines and sent Thompson to prison to up to four years, which would have almost certainly resulted in an appeal. And Dunnings said prosecutors were ready for that.

"We asked her to exceed the guidelines, and we were prepared to defend that in the Court of Appeals," he said. "We believed that, even though it takes an exceptional case to substantiate a departure from the guidelines, we thought that we might have been able to uphold the judge's sentence had she chosen to exceed. But on the other hand, that is a rarity.

"(Thompson) probably would have been granted an appeal bond, so he would have been free during the time of the appeal anyway," Dunnings said. "Then there's the time and resources an appeal would require."

Manderfield also sentenced Thompson to one year in the Ingham County Jail with credit for 107 days already served. The judge suspended the remaining balance of his jail term pending successful completion of probation.

Dunning said he understands the complaints from members of the animal rights community and MLive commenters, many of whom have chastised Manderfield's judgment acrimoniously. But their contempt is ill-placed, Dunnings said.

View full sizeIngham County photoIngham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III

"I can appreciate that, but you have to understand the Legislature has essentially told Judge Manderfield the most she can do," he said. "If people have a beef they need to contact their legislator.

"We deal with this on a daily basis. I deal with this with victims on a daily basis."

Dunnings said sentencing guidelines handed down by the Legislature have effectively marginalized discretion on the bench. He said he has "never once" met someone "that was not completely appalled by what the Legislature's done."

He said sentencing guidelines are one of his "pet peeves," along with many colleagues in the criminal justice system.

"Would we have liked to have had more time (for Thompson)? Absolutely," Dunnings said. "But I'm not looking at Judge Manderfield. Given the reality with the way the Legislature has hamstrung sentencing for judges, I think her sentence certainly lies within the ballpark."